The SolusOS team is pleased to announce the release of SolusOS 2 Alpha 4. This release utilises the Gnome Classic Desktop Environment 3.4 (not fallback), which is heavily tweaked to behave and look the same as Gnome 2. Please note that this is a development release and is not intended for use on production machines.
What does it look like?
A few times now people have requested more noticeable screenshots. And why not, it’s beautiful.
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- The file manager of SolusOS
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- The SolusOS Menu
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- Quickly and easily find videos with Minitube
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- SolusOS can run on old and new hardware
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- Theming the desktop was never this easy
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- Choose from a variety of themes and personalize your desktop
What’s different about this release?
This release saw vast improvements in the desktop theming, as well as the introduction of a Desktop Settings tool which enables users to quickly and easily change the appearance and behaviour of many aspects of the desktop environment.The appearance of the desktop has been greatly improved and is very slick and responsive. Our Cardapio Menu implementation is now truly integrated into the desktop, offering users the first true Gnome 2 like desktop environment based on Gnome 3.4 technologies.
We got rid of the gnome symbolic icons that were plaguing the panel. Now users can enjoy icons from their own theme instead of having it chosen for them. Notify-OSD was better integrated into the system and we did our best to make this desktop look as similar to Gnome 2 as possible. We think we did good. On top of all that, we added more printer, scanner, mobile broadband support and some extra firmware include default for Intel users. We also solved the issues of “authentication” dialogs appearing on the live SolusOS desktop, we now ship a custom PolicyKit configuration specifically for the live mode.
Can I upgrade from Alpha 3?
Any bug fixes or corrections have been pushed via package updates. In this release we also added compiz-gtk, cups-driver-gutenprint and mobile broadband related packages. Assuming you have an installation, adding these packages and updating to the latest versions of existing packages will be enough to upgrade you to alpha 4.
How can the community get involved?
Right now we’re the only project actively developing the true Gnome 2 experience with Gnome 3.4 technologies. We want people to get involved in creating new artwork and themes for the SolusOS Desktop, and new applets. This week we’ll be publishing easy-to-digest documentation and tutorials on SolusOS 2 Desktop theming and Programming. It’s a lot simpler than it looks!
Brief overview of software versions
- Firefox 13.0
- Thunderbird 13.0
- LibreOffice 3.5.4
- Linux Kernel 3.3.6(with BFS/preempt)
- SolusOS Gnome Classic 3.3.4
- Openshot 1.4.2
- VLC 2.0.1
Many new applications are available in the software repository.
About this release
This a development release and isn’t meant for every-day use. We hope the community will step forward and help us identify issues and improve the distribution
When will it be available as a final release?
Here at SolusOS we believe in one thing, and that’s stability. When we’re perfectly happy that SolusOS 2 is truly stable as our standards dictate, and we’ve added every last feature and resolved every last known issue, then we’ll look at moving up the chain towards final. In the mean time we look forward to your contributions and feedback on the project and have found working with the community to be a thoroughly pleasurable experience. With your help we can make this the best Gnome 2 alternative, or rather, successor, known to the Linux world.
Known issues
- Cardapio experiencing focus issues in VirtualBox
- Installer due for rewrite (no UEFI installation option)
Last but not least
Thank you to everyone involved in SolusOS. Without your help none of this would be possible. We hope you enjoy this release as much as we have enjoyed creating it
MD5:
c3b6e370b31c957fda2e8ce625d31b5b
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This is looking real good! Not bad for an OS that’s still in alpha. By the way, a couple things:
Often times the Cardapio menu won’t remember applications that are added to the sidebar. Mostly after a reboot.On that note, would it be possible to add an “Add to panel” entry to the right-click context menu for Cardapio?
And I haven’t found the “Startup applications” app. Is it included in SolusOS2 yet? I use it for adding things like compiz and such to start at boot.
I’m certainly not complaining–just asking. And SolusOS2 is certainly going to be a major attention grabber when it’s finished. great work so far.
i installed solusos 1.1 on a 8.5gb hard drive and work well
Run:
gnome-session-properties
Then it was very easy to have a launcher/applet for it, but unfortunately I can’t remember how to do it now as my Alpha 3 has crashed (i.e. replaced by the disgusting Gnome Shell after an update) and I’m back again at Lubuntu, waiting for the stable SolusOS.
And yes, SolusOS must come with a launcher for it.
The latest gnome-session-bin update I pushed contains the launcher.
I think you meant “can SolusOS come with a launcher for it?” not
“SolusOS must come with a launcher for it”
Sorry for sounding patronizing. I was in fact (in heart) just friendly and sincere. Sorry again.
I misunderstood you lionhater my apologies
Solus OS must come with a toaster !
SoluToast?
Something like that. But becoming serious, I can’t wait too see the final version of Solus OS 2.
And again… a great job, Ikey!
you are about to become the new linux-goeroe
If you keep it this way, Solus OS will be probably the best Gnome 2-like Linux distribution.
Super
This is an impressive distro. Great work, I missed the gnome 2 look and feel. Thank you – You will become a major player in the Linux world.
Very Nice
(I’m the same PV as before.) I’ve been playing around with this alpha release, and I have to say that I quite like what I’m seeing so far.
There are a few bugs and requests I have to report, starting with Compiz-related stuff.
Starting Compiz makes the spacing between control buttons (minimize/maximize/close) a bit too big, and sometimes the positioning of the trio is inconsistent. Furthermore, it does not seem possible to change the window decoration theme when using Compiz.
Compiz also causes some issues with the panel. Sometimes, blank space appears black, and this may be inconsistent with the chosen GTK+ theme. Sometimes, after changing the virtual desktop, the new desktop’s window list buttons look funny, and what’s more, the funny look is different from time to time; sometimes, the text and icons overlap, while other times, the icons go missing entirely, though all of these are fixed by simply hovering the mouse over the window list.
There’s a slight issue with the Victory GTK+ theme. The issue is that the workspace switching applet for the panel does not have well-defined lines dividing the shortcuts to each workspace, so it is hard to pick a particular workspace for switching.
There are a few things I would like to request in terms of features: Linux Mint Menu (port), an easy way to start applications upon logging in (like the “Startup Applications” from GNOME 2 and MATE), an easy way to start Compiz (in particular) upon logging in, sticking with Compiz 0.8.X for as long as is feasible (rather than updating to Compiz 0.9.X or higher because that has a number of annoying regressions), GDebi for graphically installing DEB files, Evince (in the live session), and Synaptic Package Manager alongside (or instead of) PackageKit.
Otherwise, I can only say that this is the best I’ve seen of GNOME 3 imitating GNOME 2, down to the ability to use other WMs. I am happily using Mozilla Firefox, LibreOffice, Mupen64Plus 1.5 (from a TAR file, not from the repositories), Skype and Google Talk (both from static DEB files), Redshift, and Sushi. Nautilus + Sushi in GNOME 3 totally replaces Nautilus Elementary + Gloobus-Preview in GNOME 2, so I am quite happy with that. Please let me know if any of my issues are easily solvable, off-base, or unresolvable, but anyway, massive kudos go to you Mr. Doherty!
Sorry for delayed reply. I took what you said into consideration, hence the replacement
theme. The other issues are being looked into
btw what your specs you tired solusos on?
Can somebody, please, post an video running solus 2?
Looking forward an Ubuntu and Mint Competitor. Waiting for final stable release to try it on my HDD.
Very nicely done again. You’re on the right track becoming an
indispensable distro in the (GNU-)Linux-ecosystem. Keep it up!
Thank you for the support
Hi, I am currently using S2A4 as my main system,I must sing praise and say it is par / Head-to-Head with Mint and Zorin,and it is highly and so gladly appreciated for Gnome 2x DE.
Is there any way to customize Windows Borders,Control Icons sets as in,say Debian or similar? Can you kindly point me whether or how do I acheive this,please?
The reason is that I do like to use excellent icons/themes which I collected over a period of time from Gnomelooks.org,and I even tried and have used rpm (RHEL and derivatives with Gnome 2x) because I do not want to let go these collection/ I love Gnome2x etc.
Thank you so much and hope to use Solusos for long time.
Use the “solusdesktop” tool included (Desktop Settings) in the System Tools submenu.
Please be aware that you need to use GTK3 themes, GTK2 theme’s wont work with most
of the new applications.
In /etc/default/grub in this line:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=”quiet”
adding after -quiet- this:
i915.lvds_downclock=1 i915.i915_enable_fbc=1 i915.i915_enable_rc6=1
reduces the lm_sensors reading by 5-10 C degrees.
Ikey, this looks excellent. Fantastic job in keeping the GUI like most people want to see it.
There is one little thing that I do miss in Gnome 3 and I am not sure that it can be implemented. When I opened up the file manager and looked at the contents of a folder, there used to be a status bar, indicating the remaining free space of the HDD. Is it possible to have something like this in GTK3? That would be awesome and save me some time not having to right-click everything.
Thanks for all you do, It is very much appreciated,
Yep, go to the View Menu and click Statusbar
No worries ^^
Thanks, Ikey. Although, it made me feel really stupid … .;-)
I had posted a comment here yesterday. Where did it go?
Anyway, most of the issues I had when I tried this out have to do with Compiz. The window decoration buttons are too widely spaced, the window decoration itself cannot be customized when using Compiz, the panel occasionally does funny stuff like turning black or overlapping the text and icons in the taskbar, and stuff like that.
I would also like to request use of Compiz 0.8 for as long as possible, Synaptic Package Manager, Linux Mint Menu (in the repositories, if not in the default installation), and a PDF viewer like Evince in the live session.
Otherwise, I am a very happy camper. Bravo Mr. Doherty!
Unsure PV I apologise.
Compiz we’ll keep, and I noticed the panel rendering issue :/ Working on a patch to allow true
RGBA, hopefully that will help.
Synaptic + evince will be put in if they’re all working ok
This is weird: I can now see my old, detailed comment, but it is still listed as “awaiting moderation”. Can you see it?
It says here there are 3 comments awaiting moderation but I Can’t find them :/
i would like to thank for an awesome distro linux is o.k but they dropped support for lxde ubuntu no longer supports older hardware i’m dying to try this on my old p2 and see how it goes if i’m able to but when the time comes i’ll post it on zippcast
and my dual p3 system too 
David, the fastest Pentium 2 is 450Mhz. There is no way in the world you will run any modern distribution on that. I know we support old and new hardware but you really are pushing the boat out a bit too far. The Pentium II is 15 years old!
Linux can’t “drop support” for LXDE, it has nothing to do with the Kernel Maintainers. LXDE is its own project. Ubuntu LTS are kept around to support
hardware and perhaps one of those would suit your needs, but you will not find a fully fledged operating system running on a Pentium II.
Unless you have Windows 95 around (You’d be hard pushed to run 98SE on it.)
it’s my job to push it too the next level LOL i do have a dual celeron 533mhz each but i need to repair it. and yes i have win 95 and 98se. but i don’t like microsoft anymore
p.s the p2 i have is 350mhz
David, I suggest you try crunchbang.
It’s pretty lightweight while still being based on debian.
If that doesn’t work, then maybe puppy linux and tinycore are your only bets, altho these might take some time to get used to.
Just.. wow. lol
also what i was try to say is linux mint has no plans to release an lxde version anymore for maya 13. i been waiting about 3 weeks now and nothing so far.
Yeah I think they dropped those :/
I tried installing Matte and Cinnamon on Linux Mint and Ubuntu. I couldn’t get them to work at all. Nor did I like the looks of them very much when reading about them. Solus Os is starting to look like a dream come true.
Thank you very much Zachariah
Will there be a 64bit version to download? Can’t find them atm
Not until we get out of alpha I’m afraid
Bummer…
I’m chompin’ at the bit for 64.
Hellooo hinto
Good to see you here
64-bit will come in late beta/rc
Dear Ikey,
you are doing a really great job with SolusOs!
I did, however, had a problem with this release: no internet connection. I use DSL. You can add the connection using the network manager applet on the panel; the connection shows up, but nothing happens. I also had this problem with Eveline 1.1 — not with 1.0, though. Maybe you’ll want to take a look into this.
Best,
cmrt
Hi cmrt, please try disabling the firewall (sudo ufw disable) and see if that
helps
Dear Ikey,
thanks for the reply. It didn’t work, though — I get a message saying “unknown command ufw”.
I’m sorry, I forgot to mention that I was trying the LiveDVD — I didn’t want to install the system without first being sure that the DSL connection would work (like it did, no problems at all, with Eveline 1.0). Maybe disabling the firewall will only work if the system is installed?
Best,
cmrt
You need to prefix that with sudo
I have tried to install SolusOS 2 Alpha 3 and SolusOS 2 Alpha 4 in Virtualbox and although they install, the guest additions will not install. SolusOS won’t mount the Guest Additions CD. Itried the usuall method and several other, The mounted CD just isn’t accessabile. Any ideas or point me to a forum where I can get some help? I want to test SolusOS 2 Alpha 4. Thank you very much.
As posted above Bill please ensure the empty cd device is on SATA not IDE
That worked, thank you governor.
^^
congratulations…its a great job..shows how debian should be and how gnome should be…solus os 1.1 is my main distro,,and i am testing the 2 alpha…..greetings from greece
Thank you very much John!
The desktop loooks very fine, but: I in Vitual Machines ( Virtualbox or VM player ) i can’tuse the cd drive and tht’s why I can’t install the “VM-Tools”.
Has anybody an idea?
Make sure the CD device is SATA not IDE in the VirtualBox settings
is this a 64Bit Version ?
We only have 32-bit alphas
Ikey,the SolusOS 2 will continue to use the base of Debian Stable? Or the idea is to follow independent development? Thank you for good job!
It will be based on stable (in the end
)
Incredible work guys, very good looking, especially the splash screen… it almost makes me cry.
I didn’t istall it, but I gave it a try in live mode. I saw that my wireless card (a broadcom that use the b43 driver) was not detected by default, it could be cool if you make the OS able to use this kind of wireless cards by making it even more out-of-the-box. Just that, but how I said before, good work.
you know i’am sure if software developers were will to lower there system requirements down it can run on old hardware i seen pc’s that are between 2 to 5 years old being thrown away some of them are fine i mean nothing is wrong with them. that’s just sad really.
David I created LMDE on a Pentium M 1.6Ghz 434MB RAM notebook. You can’t assume I use high end machines.
This thing here is a dual-core amd c-60 (1Ghz). It has the computing power of a small lemon.
We support computers from longer than 5 years ago but you keep asking for support for computers from
10-15 years ago. Those computers need a ouija board not a new OS
sorry.
Hey no need to be sorry
I’m just glad someone actually agrees with most devs using “too new” machines.
If they weren’t things like Shell wouldn’t be around
my comment was removed again?
lol
nevermind delete that.
No because then your comment would be true xD
Just installed 2.0 alpha but the fonts are blurred and unreadable. I had the same fault with 1.1 but the fonts came good on the second start. Any suggestions? Thanks.
What monitor/gfx card are you using?
OK – the fonts have come good but now I’ve got that darned “Firefox is already running” fault which I also encountered in 1.1
Perhaps check with gnome-system-monitor ?
how many alpha’s you think until the new stable release? i can’t wait alpha 3 when i tried it was excellent.
We’re moving onto the beta series now, alpha 5 just went up, release today.
Can u create a flavor ubuntu-based too? ;-;?
Sorry man no Ubuntu
Solus os 2 alpha 4 looks good and seems to be quite nimble. I would like to install it alongside w7. Problem is that the installer doesn’t see my other partitions. Editing the partitions (gparted) only shows one big unallocated space.
Hello, maybe if you ask on the forums (forums./) you’ll find the help you need